Coliseum Earns A in Safest-Hospital Study

A report released by a group called Hospital Safety Score rated the safest hospitals in the country.

They say the safest hospital in Central Georgia is the Coliseum Hospital.

"We are constantly working on how we can improve, and it's just great to have your hard work realized," says Sheila Gebel, Assistant Chief Nursing Officer. Gebel says some of Coliseum's success is attributed to frequent handwashing, as well as making sure instruments are not lodged inside patients during surgery.

Their study looked at safety measures that would help keep patients safe from infections, injuries, and medical and medication errors.

They say they also looked at the hospital's teamwork and skill building, their nursing workforce and their physician staffing in the emergency room."

Central Georgia's largest hospital, the Medical Center of Central Georgia, received a "C." One administrator there says the study does not show the full picture. "I would say to anybody, if you come to the Medical Center, we are going to do our very best for you to be the center of everything that we do, because we want to do patient-focused care," says Dr. Marcia Hutchinson.

The Houston Medical Center in Warner Robins also received a "C." Spokeswoman Priscilla Kennedy said the study was not an accurate representation because "the additional data provided in the report is nearly two years old and does not reflect the current state of care and quality provided by our organization."

The study was conducted by the Leapfrog Group, a Washington, D.C.-based company that advocates for access and transparency in healthcare.